vocalization
/ˌvəʊkəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌvəʊkələˈzeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz How to pronounce vocalize (audio)/ (ame, mw)
vocalization — noun
- vocalizationsingular
- vocalizationsplural
1. a sound produced by a person, animal, or bird using the voice — for example a ba
a sound produced by a person, animal, or bird using the voice — for example a baby's first cooing noises, a bird's call, or a person's spoken word.
The baby's first vocalizations were simple sounds like 'ba' and 'da'.
baby vocalizations — simple early speech sounds
Selim recorded the vocalizations of wild parrots in the forest near his village.
animal vocalizations — recorded in the wild
Scientists use underwater microphones to study the vocalizations of dolphins and whales.
Each bird species has its own set of vocalizations for warning others about danger.
Darius heard the soft vocalizations of the kittens as they searched for their mother.
用法筆記
Often used in scientific contexts (biology, zoology) to describe animal sounds. Less commonly used for human speech in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. the act of putting thoughts, feelings, or opinions into words so other people ca
the act of putting thoughts, feelings, or opinions into words so other people can understand them.
Aiko's vocalization of safety concerns at the Monday meeting made the manager install new locks.
vocalization of concerns — formal workplace context
The poem was a powerful vocalization of the author's grief after losing her home.
Nadia's vocalization of her worries during the board meeting surprised her older colleagues.
Santiago's vocalization of his opposition to the new road plan surprised the mayor and drew applause.
The community's vocalization of support for the new park led the council to approve the plan.
- expression
broader — can be non-verbal (facial expression, art) whereas vocalization specifically means in words
- articulation
emphasizes clear, organized expression of complex ideas
- verbalization
nearly identical, but even more technical and less common
用法筆記
Typically formal. More common in writing than speech. The object is usually an abstract noun such as 'concerns', 'fears', 'support', or 'opinions'.
vocalization — verb
- vocalizationpresent simple I / you / we / they
- vocalizations3rd person singular
- vocalizationing-ing form
- vocalizationedpast simple
1. to say something or express a thought, feeling, or opinion using spoken words.
to say something or express a thought, feeling, or opinion using spoken words.
Eitan waited for all the facts before he vocalized his opinion on the matter.
vocalize + opinion — deliberate expression after reflection
The child was too shy to vocalize her request and simply pointed at the shelf.
During the town hall meeting, residents had three minutes to vocalize traffic safety concerns.
Felipe found it hard to vocalize his thanks after receiving such a generous gift.
The witness vocalized exactly what she had seen on the night of the accident.
- express
broader — includes non-verbal communication
- voice
nearly synonymous but slightly less formal
- articulate
emphasizes clear and organized expression
- utter
more general — can mean producing any sound, not just words
- suppress
to hold back or keep feelings/opinions inside instead of vocalizing them
文法句型
vocalize + noun phrase
用法筆記
More formal than 'say' or 'tell'. Often implies speaking after some thought or hesitation. Frequently takes abstract objects like 'thoughts', 'concerns', 'opinions'.
常見錯誤
2. to produce a speech sound while the vocal cords are vibrating, turning a voicele
to produce a speech sound while the vocal cords are vibrating, turning a voiceless sound into a voiced one — for example, changing the /s/ sound in 'bus' to the /z/ sound in 'buzz'.
Learners must vocalize the final 's' in 'dogs' so it sounds like /z/ not /s/.
vocalize final 's' — voicing rule in plural nouns
The teacher asked Mira to vocalize the /b/ sound while touching her throat to feel the vibration.
The difference between 'sip' and 'zip' is that you vocalize the first sound in 'zip'.
Kwame practiced vocalizing the /v/ in 'van' instead of the voiceless /f/ by touching his throat.
- devoice
to make a voiced sound voiceless, e.g. pronouncing /z/ as /s/
文法句型
vocalize + consonant/speech sound
用法筆記
This is a technical phonetic term. The opposite is 'devoice' (to make a voiced sound voiceless). Subject is typically a speaker or language learner; object is a specific consonant or speech sound.
3. to change a consonant sound into a vowel sound, or for a consonant to turn into
to change a consonant sound into a vowel sound, or for a consonant to turn into a vowel, usually over a long period as a language develops.
Over centuries, the /l/ in 'folk' became vocalized and turned into a vowel sound.
consonant vocalizes over time — historical sound change
In some English dialects, the /l/ at the end of 'milk' tends to vocalize into a /w/-like sound.
Linguists study how certain consonants vocalized into vowels in ancient languages like Latin and Greek.
For a university phonology project, Ritu traced the /j/ in Sanskrit vocalizing to /i/ in modern Hindi.
- vowelize
less common variant with the same meaning
- consonantize
to turn a vowel into a consonant
- debuccalize
a different type of sound change where a consonant loses its original place of articulation
文法句型
vocalize + consonant
consonant vocalizes
用法筆記
An intransitive use ('a consonant vocalizes') is common in this sense. Distinguished from sense 2 ('make voiced') by referring to a change in the type of sound (consonant to vowel), not whether the vocal cords vibrate.
4. to add small written marks or letters to a text that is normally written with on
to add small written marks or letters to a text that is normally written with only consonants, so that readers know which vowel sounds to pronounce.
The teacher vocalized the Hebrew text so beginner students could read it aloud.
vocalize + text — adding vowel marks for learners
Arabic textbooks for children are fully vocalized with small marks above and below the letters.
fully vocalized — technical description of a text
When Yuki started learning Arabic, her teacher showed her how to vocalize texts by adding vowel marks above the consonants.
Darius learned to vocalize Persian texts by adding short vowel symbols to the consonant script.
文法句型
vocalize + text/script
用法筆記
Applies mainly to writing systems like Hebrew and Arabic where short vowels are not normally written. The term 'pointing' or 'vowel pointing' is also used for this practice.
5. to make any kind of sound with your voice, such as a shout, a laugh, a cry, or a
to make any kind of sound with your voice, such as a shout, a laugh, a cry, or a groan, without necessarily forming words.
The patient could not vocalize after throat surgery and could only whisper.
inability to vocalize — medical context
Babies vocalize for months before they learn to say their first real words.
Sumin vocalized her frustration with a loud groan when her computer stopped working again.
Actors often vocalize warm-up sounds like hums and trills before a stage performance.
The dogs growled and whined, vocalizing their fear as the storm grew louder.
用法筆記
Focuses on the physical act of producing sound rather than communicating a specific message. Can apply to both humans and animals.
6. to produce musical sounds and melodies with your voice, especially as part of vo
to produce musical sounds and melodies with your voice, especially as part of vocal training or practice exercises.
The choir director asked everyone to vocalize the melody on the syllable 'la'.
vocalize + melody on a syllable — vocal exercise
Felipe likes to vocalize in the shower every morning, running through scales and simple tunes.
The opera singer vocalized a series of rising notes to test if her voice was ready for the show.
Warm-up exercises help singers vocalize safely without straining their vocal cords before a long rehearsal.
Saira vocalized a soft lullaby to calm the crying baby in her arms.
文法句型
vocalize + melody/tune
vocalize on a syllable
用法筆記
In music contexts, 'vocalize' often refers to warm-up exercises or singing without words (scat singing, humming). It is more technical than the everyday verb 'sing'.